NHS England told Pulse that the arrangement was allowed because while community pharmacies are contracted to provide NHS services, as private businesses they can also contract with other, private providers to supply non-NHS services.

But GPs warned that providing private GP services on hospital premises served to 'undermine' NHS GP practices and 'drive a wedge' between providers.

MedicSpot, which is already accessible at high-street pharmacies across 15 UK towns, sees consultations taking place via video call, with doctors able to remotely examine the patient through an attached blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, thermometer, pulse oximeter and a small camera for the throat and ears provided at the hospital.

The patient is instructed to use these instruments, with the results assessed by the remote GP.

Dr Jackie Applebee, a GP in Tower Hamlets, said: ‘It is bad enough that these services are available in pharmacies, but housing them in NHS hospitals undermines NHS general practice and drives a wedge between primary and secondary care when we should be working together for the good of our patients.'

She added: ‘This is no way to address the crisis in the NHS and these online private services are exploiting the crisis to make a profit. The way to address the crisis is to fund the NHS adequately, to the same levels as comparable countries.'

But GP and founder of MedicSpot Dr Zubair Ahmed, who intends to further expand his business, said it was 'designed to try and take some pressure away from the NHS and increase capacity in our health system as a whole'.

He said: 'The NHS recognises that access to safe primary healthcare needs to be improved to reduce inappropriate attendances to A&E and other knock-on effects.

'MedicSpot is providing this which is already having cost savings for the NHS and we hope to work in collaboration with NHS stakeholders in future to magnify these positive effects.'

I haven't seen it in action, but looks very promising as it allows technology to be used for selected patients.NHS GP's are resistant to any change because they are scared from competition. They react without fully appraising it.

10:38, is that right?
Maybe just maybe it is exploitation, the ‘selected’ patients are those with £40 to spare, or those being failed by existing services. The real truth is that NHSE and the providers are fully aware that this is shite medicine, but it involves no cost to government. It will be the way of the future and if a few greedy GPs want to cash in with the DOH turning a blind eye, so be it. Oh and I wish them well with the GMC.

At least these initial shots in the privatization agenda are settling payment level for telephone consultations,nevvermind face to face.That would have been £1000 for this morning surgery of 25 face to face.Also did 10 telephone consults.Quids in.They dont realize what a bargain they had with a viable GP service.Rather they would starve it to death.

Just have a look at MedicSpot website.... it's an absolute joke. Money for old rope. "Our State of the art Clinic Station allow the doctor to perform various examinations on you just as your normal GP would do". Who would sign up for this shit? If this is the future of General Practice... God help us all... I'm keeping myself updated so I can look after my friends and family.... Joe public and the great unwashed...
Best of luck...